automatic transmission
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: memphis tennessee
automatic transmission
Ok I just sold a 94 6 speed so not very well versed in auto's. I have a good friend who is looking at a 94 auto with 89,000 miles. It is extremely clean car and looks to be VERY well maintained. I would love to get everyone's opinion on life expectancy of the auto and any problems he could expect with the auto with this kinda mileage.
thanks for any comments
thanks for any comments
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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The later the year the better the durability. 94 is a good, later year. It is electronic which makes for better durability. It does not have a governor so it uses map,tps and speed sensor inputs to activate solenoids for quick valve actuations. 100 to 150k in a properly maintained, street driven c-4 is not unusual.
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
If it's working well already, just do a flush switching to synthetic fluid and then change the filter. Should be good to go for many more miles.
Race Director
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From: Kingman AZ
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
There is a great article on transmissions in the current issue of Corvette Fever by Chris Petris. This guy knows his stuff.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: VA
Originally Posted by Pete K
100 to 150k in a properly maintained, street driven c-4 is not unusual.
I hope that's not the case. That would be a pretty lousy lifetime.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Endicott New York
Oldtimer
I bought my 94 Auto in April of 2001 with 24K miles on it. Real clean, well maintained car. Put 4000 miles on it the first Summer. Then in Nov of 2001 while taking it out for the last ride of the year before garaging her for the Winter, the tranny went. Brought tears to my eyes seeing her on the trailer being taken to the shop. The owner of the trans shop said a valve stuck? Cost me $1000. No problems since then, only had to put a water pump in her 2 years ago.
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Race Director
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That is the opposite of what I am implying. These transmissions often have a reputation for failing every few years. I am a believer in these units. I feel that any part that goes 100-150k is a good part. I would never expect a motor,trans or rear to last 200k in a high performance car. If it does go that far I feel the part owes me nothing. For the record my origional trans(87) went 235k before I broke it. This is the exception rather than the rule. Some guys have had failures with less than 60k. I also feel that these are the exception.
Race Director
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Also, transmissions contain a band and many clutch plates. These have a wear surface similar to a brake pad or clutch lining. A typical plate is .060 thick. .040 is the center, and each side contains.010 of wear surface. I cannot believe this lining holds up for more than ten miles much less 100k. Heat is the big factor. The rubber lip seals get hard from heat. 1 little crack in a lip seal causes a failure in the hydralic circuit. Then the trans fails. 
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Columbia Missouri
There's one school of thought that says if your transmission has gone for many miles without changing the fluid, leaving it alone is safest. I've had my 95 since only last summer, so I have no way of knowing for sure whether it's been done or not. I'm torn!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: VA
Originally Posted by Pete K
I would never expect a motor,trans or rear to last 200k in a high performance car. If it does go that far I feel the part owes me nothing.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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Originally Posted by steve9899
I consider a modern engine or tranny that doesn't make it to 200k with proper maintenance to be a POS. But then I'm not used to American cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
My Tranny has 155k on it just flushed and filtered had a lot of gunk on the magnet but it works just fine. I added Lucas tranny treatment to it and it runs a lot better than before used to shift pretty hard now it feels just right.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: memphis tennessee
thanks everyone for the replys. From what I am hearing the automatic should be good for quite some time with a good flush and fluid change. I really appreciate all the comments and thoughts.
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by VFR750
There's one school of thought that says if your transmission has gone for many miles without changing the fluid, leaving it alone is safest. I've had my 95 since only last summer, so I have no way of knowing for sure whether it's been done or not. I'm torn!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Originally Posted by steve9899
I consider a modern engine or tranny that doesn't make it to 200k with proper maintenance to be a POS. But then I'm not used to American cars.
350's go 200k easy, I've never owned a C-4 Corvette auto without at least 100k when I bought it. Never had a Corvette trans fail.
You drive an American car!
Anyone can kill the auto trans in every car out there. Its keeping them alive that takes practice.
Not used to American cars what country are you from? Don't look now theres one right behind you.
